Remote control proxy method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A gateway assigns an identifier to a home-network apparatus and associates the identifier with URL of a proxy server to register. A home page containing the identifier of the home-network apparatus and URL of the proxy server is generated, and the content data is transmitted to the remote terminal. The remote terminal makes a connection request on the home page to the proxy server of the home-network apparatus and acquires a home page for control. When the remote terminal transmits a control request message in the HTTP protocol, the proxy server converts the message into a command to transmit to the gateway. The gateway performs address conversion and protocol conversion on the control command to transfer to the home-network apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a remote control proxy methodand apparatus for remotely controlling controlled apparatuses on a homenetwork from an external network.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventionally, electrical apparatuses exiting in the home rarelyhave the network computing function like a computer. However, in recentyears, standardizing techniques have been performed widely to connectthe home apparatuses, particularly non-PC apparatuses (specifically,electrical appliances such as AV devices such as a digital TV, VTR andmonitoring camera, refrigerator and microwave oven which are not generalcomputer unlike a personal computer, but are special-purpose apparatuseshave the dedicate function corresponding to their respective use) on ahome network to control each apparatus or transfer data between theapparatuses.

[0005] Network specifications for non-PC apparatuses are first studiedand standardized. For example, leading standards are IEEE 1394 and HAVi(Home Audio/Video interoperability) that is the middleware on IEEE 1394network for AV network for use in digital TV, VTR, etc. and ECHONET forhome appliances. Other examples are Jini that is the middleware on aJava (trademark), which is Object-Oriented language, basis, and UPnP(Universal Plug and Play) that is the middleware on an Internet protocolbasis.

[0006] According to these specifications, it is possible to controldevices and apparatuses accommodated in respective networks. Further,mutual connection and control between the network specifications, i.e.,different networks such as HAVi and Jini have been advanced. However,such studies are focused on mutual connection between different networksin the home.

[0007] Meanwhile, some studies have been performed on a method ofcontrolling devices and apparatuses on a home network froman externalnetwork typified by the internet. These studies are primarily divided totwo from the viewpoint of forms for transmitting control commands on theexternal network. In addition, in the following description, a gatewaymeans an apparatus which is disposed in the home or office and whichconnects an internal network in the home or SOHO/ROBO (Small Office/HomeOffice and Remote Office/Branch Office) to an external network connectedto a service provider.

[0008] (1) A gateway opens types of services, which home apparatusesprovide, to the public and converts a control command received from anexternal-network terminal into a control command that can be directlyinterpreted by the home apparatus, whereby control and services of thehome apparatuses are achieved; and

[0009] (2) An external-network terminal transmits a control command thatcan be directly interpreted by a home apparatus via a gatewaytransparently by end-by-end, whereby control and services of the homeapparatuses are achieved.

[0010] An example of item (1) is OSGi (Open Service Gateway initiative).OSGi aims standardization on API (Application Programming Interface) ofgateway. Among core API relating to remote service management, apparatusmanagement and resource management, optional API defines a mechanism ofmutual communications between a gateway and client, and data management.

[0011] An example of recent studies on item (1) is a technique disclosedin Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication HEI11-187061. The techniquerelates to a method in which a gateway maps services that homeapparatuses provide on URL (Uniform Resource Locator) to open to thepublic, and when an external-network apparatus accesses to a serviceindicated by URL, converts the access into a control command that can bedirectly interpreted by a relevant home apparatus to transmit.

[0012] Meanwhile, the method of item (2) needs to cope with how totransmit control commands specific to the home network such as AV/Ccommand of IEEE1394 from a remote terminal such as a cellular telephoneand a laptop computer. With respect to the foregoing, the techniquedisclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication HEI11-187061 tries tosolve the problem by downloading from a server on an external networkanytime a control program (particularly, Java program) for directlytransmitting such control commands specific to the network.

[0013] However, above methods (1) and (2) both have problems.

[0014] In the method of item (1), it is necessary for a gateway to holda correspondence table between control commands received fromexternal-network apparatuses and control commands that can be directlyinterpreted by home-network apparatuses. However, there are not a fewtypes of AV/C commands of IEEE1394 or control commands of ECHONET. It isnot preferable for a gateway to hold all the correspondence tables fromthe viewpoint of memory use amount. Further, whenever a new function isadded to a home-network apparatus, it is necessary to specify thecorrespondence of control command between the external-apparatus andhome-network apparatus, and to update the table of the gateway.

[0015] It is difficult to standardize the correspondence of commands tomaintain compatibility between makers. Further, it is not easy for agateway to detect a new service and update the table.

[0016] In the method of item (2), since a remote terminal transmits acontrol command that can be directly interpreted by a home-networkapparatus, the load on a gateway is reduced. However, it is not easy forremote terminals such as cellular telephones and laptops to transmitsuch commands. The technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication HEI11-187061 proposes that a remote terminal downloads aJava program to execute. However, all the remote terminals are notexpected to have resources and environments sufficient to execute theJava program. Further, there is a case that in order to take measuresagainst improper Java programs with virus, functions are limited whichcan be achieved on a Java program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus enabling remote terminals to transmit control requests usinggeneral protocols without using a specific control program, whileeliminating loads for converting the control requests on a gateway, andthereby achieve remote control.

[0018] In a remote control information opening method of the presentinvention, in a network system comprised of a controlled apparatus thatis connected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, aremote control terminal that is connected to an external network andtransmits an external-network control request of external-networkcontrol command format different from the home-network control commandformat, a gateway apparatus that connects the home network and theexternal network, and a proxy server that converts in format, on theexternal network, the external-network control request into thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus, inorder for the remote control terminal to remotely control the controlledapparatus, an apparatus identifier for identifying the controlledapparatus is assigned to the controlled apparatus, remote controlinformation is generated which associates the apparatus identifier witha proxy server address indicative of an address on the external networkof the proxy server responsible for the controlled apparatus, and theremote control information is open to the public on the externalnetwork.

[0019] According to this method, since the address of the proxy serverto which the remote control terminal connects to control the controlledapparatus is open to the public on the external network, the remotecontrol terminal is capable of acquiring the address to make the proxyserver convert the format of the control request as a proxy for theterminal. Therefore, loads on the remote control terminal are reduced,and since the gateway apparatus does not need to convert the format,loads on the gateway apparatus are also reduced.

[0020] In the present invention, it may be possible to hold anexpiration date of the proxy server address, and to acquire, when theexpiration date expires, a new proxy server address to update the remotecontrol information.

[0021] According to this method, a new valid proxy server address onpublic enables the remote control terminal to connect to a proxy serverwith reliability to make the proxy server convert the format.

[0022] In a remote control information registering method of the presentinvention, in a network system comprised of a controlled apparatus thatis connected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, aremote control terminal that is connected to an external network andtransmits an external-network control request of external-networkcontrol command format different from the home-network control commandformat, a gateway apparatus that connects the home network and theexternal network, a proxy server that converts in format, on theexternal network, the external-network control request into thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,and a remote control information opening apparatus that opens remotecontrol information to the public on the external network where theremote control information associates an apparatus identifier foridentifying the controlled apparatus with a proxy server addressindicative of an address on the external network of the proxy serverresponsible for the controlled apparatus, in order for the remotecontrol terminal to remotely control the controlled apparatus, the proxyserver address of the proxy server responsible for the controlledapparatus is held and registered with the remote control informationopening apparatus.

[0023] According to this method, since a proxy server address isregistered with the remote control information opening apparatus when anew controlled apparatus is added, it is possible to reliably acquirethe remote control information required for the remote control from theremote control terminal to the controlled apparatus.

[0024] Further, in the present invention, it may be possible to hold anexpiration date of the proxy server address, and to acquire, when theexpiration date expires, a new proxy server address.

[0025] According to this method, since a new valid proxy server addressis acquired and registered with the remote control information openingapparatus, the remote control terminal is capable of connecting to aproxy server with reliability to make the proxy server convert theformat.

[0026] In a remote control requesting method of the present invention,in a network system comprised of a controlled apparatus that isconnected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, agateway apparatus that connects the home network and an externalnetwork, a proxy server that converts in format an external-networkcontrol request of external-network control command format available onan external network into the home-network control request to transmit tothe controlled apparatus, and a remote control information openingapparatus that opens remote control information to the public on theexternal network where the remote control information associates anapparatus identifier for identifying the controlled apparatus with aproxy server address indicative of an address on the external network ofthe proxy server assigned to the controlled apparatus, in order for aremote control terminal to remotely control the controlled apparatus,the remote control terminal acquires the remote control information fromthe remote control information opening apparatus, transmits theexternal-network control request to the proxy server address indicatedby the acquired remote control information, and makes the proxy serverconvert in format the external-network control request into thehome-network control request and transmit the request to the controlledapparatus.

[0027] According to this method, it is possible to connect to the proxyserver with the proxy server address indicated by the remote controlinformation acquired from the remote control information openingapparatus, and to make the proxy server convert the format of thecontrol request to the controlled apparatus. Therefore, loads on theremote control terminal are reduced, and since the gateway apparatusdoes not need to convert the format, loads on the gateway apparatus arealso reduced.

[0028] In a remote control proxy method of the present invention, in anetwork system comprised of a controlled apparatus that is connected toa home network and interprets a home-network control request ofhome-network control command format to undergo control, a remote controlterminal that is connected to an external network and transmits anexternal-network control request of external-network control commandformat different from the home-network control command format, a gatewayapparatus that connects the home network and the external network, and aproxy information opening apparatus that opens control proxy informationto the public on the external network where the control proxyinformation associates an apparatus identifier for identifying thecontrolled apparatus with a proxy server address on the external networkassigned to the controlled apparatus, in order for the remote controlterminal to remotely control the controlled apparatus, theexternal-network control request is received which the remote controlterminal transmits to the proxy server address acquired from the proxyinformation opening apparatus, the received external-network controlrequest is converted in format into the home-network control request,and the home-network control request is transmitted to the controlledapparatus.

[0029] According to this method, since the external-network controlrequest transmitted from a remote control terminal to a proxy serveraddress is converted in format into the home-network control request,loads on the remote control terminal are reduced, and since the gatewayapparatus does not need to convert the format, loads on the gatewayapparatus are also reduced.

[0030] In the present invention, it may be possible to encrypt thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,and to designate either the gateway apparatus or the controlledapparatus as an apparatus for decrypting the encrypted home-networkcontrol request.

[0031] According to this method, since the external-network controlrequest is not only converted in format into the home-network controlrequest, but also is encrypted as a proxy for the remote controlterminal, loads on the remote control terminal are reduced, and sincethe gateway apparatus does not need to encrypt the request, loads on thegateway apparatus are also reduced. Further, since either the gatewayapparatus or the controlled apparatus is designated as an apparatus fordecrypting the encrypted home-network control request, it is madepossible to select the apparatus for decrypting the request asappropriate corresponding to performances of the controlled apparatusand gateway apparatus. For example, the gateway apparatus is designatedwhen the controlled apparatus does not have the function of decryptingencrypted data or it is required to reduce loads on the controlledapparatus. Meanwhile, the controlled apparatus is designated when it isrequired to reduce loads on the gateway apparatus.

[0032] In an address converting method of the present invention, in anetwork system comprised of a controlled apparatus that is connected toa home network and interprets a home-network control request ofhome-network control command format to undergo control, a remote controlterminal that is connected to an external network and transmits anexternal-network control request of external-network control commandformat different from the home-network control command format, a gatewayapparatus that connects the home network and the external network, and aproxy server that converts in format, on the external network, theexternal-network control request into the home-network control requestto transmit to the controlled apparatus, in order for the remote controlterminal to remotely control the controlled apparatus, addressconversion information is held which associates transmission sourceinformation comprised of a transmission source address indicative of anaddress on the external network of the proxy server and control specificcodes assigned for each control content of the controlled apparatus towhich the proxy server requests with post-conversion address informationindicative of an address on the home network of the controlledapparatus, the home-network control request is received which istransmitted from the proxy server to the address on the external networkof the gateway apparatus and which contains the home-network controlrequest containing the transmission source address and a controlspecific code, the address conversion information is read whichcorresponds to the transmission source address and the control specificcode, and according to the address conversion information, atransmission destination address of the home-network control request isconverted from an address on the external networks into an address onthe home network of the controlled apparatus indicated by thepost-conversion address information.

[0033] According to this method, since the home-network control requestis transferred to a desired controlled apparatus only by that the proxyserver transmits the home-network control request containing the controlspecific code to an address of the gateway apparatus, the proxy serveris capable of transmitting the home-network control request to thedesired controlled apparatus without gasping the home-network address ofthe controlled apparatus.

[0034] In the present invention, it may be possible that the gatewayapparatus identifies whether or not a received home-network controlrequest is a control request to the gateway apparatus, and when thecontrol request is to the gateway apparatus, executes the requestedcontrol over the gateway apparatus without transferring the home-networkcontrol request.

[0035] According to this method, it is possible to make the gatewayapparatus control itself only by that the proxy server transmits thecontrol request to the gateway apparatus to an address of the gatewayapparatus in the same way as transmitting the home-network controlrequest to the controlled apparatus.

[0036] Further in the present invention, when a content of the controlrequest to the gateway apparatus is history information collection, thegateway apparatus may transmit history information containing at leastone of execution results and execution states of control requested tothe controlled apparatus.

[0037] According to this method, it is possible to make the gatewayapparatus transmit history information only by that the proxy servertransmits a history information transmission request to the gatewayapparatus in the same way as transmitting the home-network controlrequest to the controlled apparatus. Then, for example, it is possibleto select either continuing or suspending a next home-network requestfrom the history information.

[0038] Further, in the remote control proxy method of the presentinvention, it may be possible to collect requester information onrequesters of the remote control, and to register the requesterinformation with a requester information server that provides theinformation corresponding to an inquiry request from an outer terminal.

[0039] According to this method, using an external terminal, forexample, it is made possible that sales representatives refer to therequester information on remote control of requesters to use in salespromotion of the controlled apparatus.

[0040] A remote control information opening apparatus of the presentinvention has an identifier assigning section that assigns an apparatusidentifier for identifying a controlled apparatus to the controlledapparatus that is connected to a home network and interprets ahome-network control request of home-network control command format toundergo control, a remote control information generating section thatgenerates remote control information associating the apparatusidentifier with a proxy server address indicative of an address on anexternal network of a proxy server that is responsible for thecontrolled apparatus and converts in format an external-network controlrequest of external-network control command format different from thehome-network control command format transmitted from a remote controlterminal into the home-network control request to transmit to thecontrolled apparatus, and an opening section that opens the remotecontrol information to the public on the external network.

[0041] According to this configuration, since the address of the proxyserver to which the remote control terminal connects to control thecontrolled apparatus is open to the public on the external network, theremote control terminal is capable of acquiring the address to make theproxy server convert the format of the control request as a proxy forthe terminal. Therefore, loads on the remote control terminal arereduced, and since the gateway apparatus does not need to convert theformat, loads on the gateway apparatus are also reduced.

[0042] In the present invention, it may be possible to further have aproxy server address updating section which holds an expiration date ofthe proxy server address, and when the expiration date expires, acquiresa new proxy server address to update the remote control information.

[0043] According to this configuration, a new valid proxy server addresson public enables the remote control terminal to connect to a proxyserver with reliability to make the proxy server convert the format.

[0044] A remote control information registering apparatus of the presentinvention has a proxy server address holding section that holds a proxyserver address indicative of an address on an external network of aproxy server that converts in format an external-network control requestinto a home-network control request to transmit to a controlledapparatus, where the external control request has an external-networkcontrol command format different from a home-network control commandformat, and is transmitted from a remote control terminal connected toan external network to the controlled apparatus that is connected to ahome network and interprets the home-network control request of thehome-network control command format to undergo control, and aregistering section that registers the proxy server address with aremote control information opening apparatus that opens remote controlinformation to the public on the external network where the remotecontrol information associates an apparatus identifier for identifyingthe controlled apparatus with the proxy server address indicative of theaddress on the external network of the proxy server responsible for thecontrolled apparatus.

[0045] According to this configuration, since a proxy server address isregistered with the remote control information opening apparatus when anew controlled apparatus is added, it is possible to reliably acquirethe remote control information required for the remote control from theremote control terminal to the controlled apparatus.

[0046] Further, in the present invention, it may be possible to furtherhave a proxy server address acquiring section that holds an expirationdate of the proxy server address, and when the expiration date expires,acquires a new proxy server address.

[0047] According to this configuration, since a new valid proxy serveraddress is acquired and registered with the remote control informationopening apparatus, the remote control terminal is capable of connectingto a proxy server with reliability to make the proxy server convert theformat.

[0048] A remote control requesting apparatus of the present inventionhas a remote control information acquiring section that acquires remotecontrol information from a remote control information opening apparatusthat opens the remote control information to the public where the remotecontrol information associates an apparatus identifier for identifying acontrolled apparatus that is connected to a home network and interpretsa home-network control request of home-network control command format toundergo control with a proxy server address indicative of an address onan external network of a proxy server that converts in format anexternal-network control request into the home-network control requestto transmit to the controlled apparatus where the external controlrequest has an external-network control command format different fromthe home-network control command format, and is transmitted to thecontrolled apparatus from a remote control terminal connected to theexternal network, and an external-network control request transmittingsection which transmits the external-network control request to theproxy server address indicated by the acquired remote controlinformation, and makes the proxy server convert in format theexternal-network control request into the home-network control requestand transmit the request to the controlled apparatus.

[0049] According to this configuration, it is possible to connect to theproxy server with the proxy server address indicated by the remotecontrol information acquired from the remote control information openingapparatus, and to make the proxy server convert the format of thecontrol request to the controlled apparatus. Therefore, loads on theremote control terminal are reduced, and since the gateway apparatusdoes not need to convert the format, loads on the gateway apparatus arealso reduced.

[0050] A remote control proxy server apparatus of the present inventionhas an external-network control request receiving section that receivesan external-network control request transmitted to a proxy serveraddress from a remote control terminal that is connected to an externalnetwork and acquires the proxy server address from a proxy informationopening apparatus that opens control proxy information to the public onthe external network where the control proxy information associates anapparatus identifier for identifying a controlled apparatus that isconnected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control withthe proxy server address on the external network of the proxy serverapparatus assigned to the controlled apparatus, and a control requestconverting section which converts in format a received external-networkcontrol request into the home-network control request, and transmits thehome-network control request to the controlled apparatus via a gatewayapparatus that connects the external network and the home network.

[0051] According to this configuration, since the external-networkcontrol request transmitted from a remote control terminal to a proxyserver address is converted in format into the home-network controlrequest, loads on the remote control terminal are reduced, and since thegateway apparatus does not need to convert the format, loads on thegateway apparatus are also reduced.

[0052] In the present invention, it may be possible to further have anencryption end terminal designating section which encrypts thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,and designates either the gateway apparatus or the controlled apparatusas an apparatus for decrypting the encrypted home-network controlrequest.

[0053] According to this configuration, since the external-networkcontrol request is not only converted in format into the home-networkcontrol request, but also is encrypted as a proxy for the remote controlterminal, loads on the remote control terminal are reduced, and sincethe gateway apparatus does not need to encrypt the request, loads on thegateway apparatus are also reduced. Further, since either the gatewayapparatus or the controlled apparatus is designated as an apparatus fordecrypting the encrypted home-network control request, it is madepossible to select the apparatus for decrypting the request asappropriate corresponding to performances of the controlled apparatusand gateway apparatus. For example, the gateway apparatus is designatedwhen the controlled apparatus does not have the function of decryptingencrypted data or it is required to reduce loads on the controlledapparatus. Meanwhile, the controlled apparatus is designated when it isrequired to reduce loads on the gateway apparatus.

[0054] An address converting apparatus of the present invention convertsa transmission destination address of a home-network control requestfrom an address on an external network into an address on a home networkin a network system comprised of a controlled apparatus that isconnected to the home network and interprets the home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, aremote control terminal that is connected to the external network andtransmits an external-network control request of external-networkcontrol command format different from the home-network control commandformat, a gateway apparatus that connects the home network and theexternal network, and a proxy server that converts in format, on theexternal network, the external-network control request into thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,and has an address conversion information holding section that holdsaddress conversion information associating transmission sourceinformation comprised of a sender address indicative of an address onthe external network of the proxy server and control specific codesassigned for each control content of the controlled apparatus to whichthe proxy server requests with post-conversion address informationindicative of an address on the home network of the controlledapparatus, a home-network control request receiving section thatreceives the home-network control request which is transmitted from theproxy server to the address on the external network of the gatewayapparatus and which contains the home-network control request containingthe transmission source address and the control specific code, and anaddress converting section which reads the address conversioninformation that corresponds to the transmission source address and thecontrol specific code, and according to the address conversioninformation, converts a transmissions destination address of thehome-network control request into an address on the home-network of thecontrolled apparatus indicated by the post-conversion addressinformation.

[0055] According to this configuration, since the home-network controlrequest is transferred to a desired controlled apparatus only by thatthe proxy server transmits the home-network control request containingthe control specific code to an address of the gateway apparatus, theproxy server is capable of transmitting the home-network control requestto the desired controlled apparatus without gasping the home-networkaddress of the controlled apparatus.

[0056] In the present invention, it may be possible to further have acontrol request identifying section that identifies whether or not areceived home-network control request is a control request to thegateway apparatus, and a control executing section which when thecontrol request is to the gateway apparatus, executes the requestedcontrol over the gateway apparatus without transferring the home-networkcontrol request.

[0057] According to this configuration, it is possible to make thegateway apparatus control itself only by that the proxy server transmitsthe control request to the gateway apparatus to an address of thegateway apparatus in the same way as transmitting the home-networkcontrol request to the controlled apparatus.

[0058] Further in the present invention, when a content of the controlrequest to the gateway apparatus is history information collection, thecontrol executing section may transmit history information containing atleast one of execution results and execution states of control requestedto the controlled apparatus.

[0059] According to this configuration, it is possible to make thegateway apparatus transmit history information only by that the proxyserver transmits a history information transmission request to thegateway apparatus in the same way as transmitting the home-networkcontrol request to the controlled apparatus. Then, for example, it ispossible to select either continuing or suspending a next home-networkrequest from the history information.

[0060] Further, in the remote control proxy server apparatus of thepresent invention, it may be possible to further have a requesterinformation collecting section that collects requester information onrequesters of the remote control, and a requester informationregistering section that registers the requester information with arequester information server that provides the information correspondingto an inquiry request from an outer terminal.

[0061] According to this configuration, using an external terminal, forexample, it is made possible that sales representatives refer to therequester information on remote control of requesters to use in salespromotion of the controlled apparatus.

[0062] A remote control information opening program of the presentinvention makes a computer function as an identifier assigning sectionthat assigns an apparatus identifier for identifying a controlledapparatus to the controlled apparatus that is connected to a homenetwork and interprets a home-network control request of home-networkcontrol command format to undergo control, a remote control informationgenerating section that generates remote control information associatingthe apparatus identifier with a proxy server address indicative of anaddress on the external network of a proxy server that is responsiblefor the controlled apparatus and converts an external-network controlrequest of external-network control command format different from thehome-network control command format transmitted from a remote controlterminal into the home-network control request to transmit to thecontrolled apparatus, and an opening section that opens the remotecontrol information to the public on the external network.

[0063] According to this program, since the address of the proxy serverto which the remote control terminal connects to control the controlledapparatus is open to the public on the external network, the remotecontrol terminal is capable of acquiring the address to make the proxyserver convert the format of the control request as a proxy for theterminal. Therefore, loads on the remote control terminal are reduced,and since the gateway apparatus does not need to convert the format,loads on the gateway apparatus are also reduced.

[0064] In this program, it may be possible to further make the computerfunction as a proxy server address updating section that holds anexpiration date of the proxy server address, and when the expirationdate expires, acquires a new proxy server address to update the remotecontrol information.

[0065] According to this program, a new valid proxy server address onpublic enables the remote control terminal to connect to a proxy serverwith reliability to make the proxy server convert the format.

[0066] A remote control information registering program of the presentinvention makes a computer function as a proxy server address holdingsection that holds a proxy server address indicative of an address on anexternal network of a proxy server that converts in format anexternal-network control request into a home-network control request totransmit to a controlled apparatus, where the external control requesthas an external-network control command format different from ahome-network control command format, and is transmitted from a remotecontrol terminal connected to the external network to a controlledapparatus that is connected to a home network and interprets thehome-network control request of home-network control command format toundergo control, and a registering section that registers the proxyserver address with a remote control information opening apparatus thatopens remote control information to the public on the external networkwhere the remote control information associates an apparatus identifierfor identifying the controlled apparatus with the proxy server addressindicative of the address on the external network of the proxy serverresponsible for the controlled apparatus.

[0067] According to this program, since a proxy server address isregistered with the remote control information opening apparatus when anew controlled apparatus is added, it is possible to reliably acquirethe remote control information required for the remote control from theremote control terminal to the controlled apparatus.

[0068] Further, in this program, it may be possible to further make thecomputer as a proxy server address acquiring section that holds anexpiration date of the proxy server address, and when the expirationdate expires, acquires a new proxy server address.

[0069] According to this program, since a new valid proxy server addressis acquired and registered with the remote control information openingapparatus, the remote control terminal is capable of connecting to aproxy server with reliability to make the proxy server convert theformat.

[0070] A remote control requesting program of the present inventionmakes a computer function as a remote control information acquiringsection that acquires remote control information from a remote controlinformation opening apparatus that opens the remote control informationto the public where the remote control information associates anapparatus identifier for identifying a controlled apparatus that isconnected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control with aproxy server address indicative of an address on an external network ofa proxy server that converts in format an external-network controlrequest into the home-network control request to transmit to thecontrolled apparatus where the external control request has anexternal-network control command format different from the home-networkcontrol command format, and is transmitted to the controlled apparatusfrom a remote control terminal connected to the external network, and anexternal-network control request transmitting section that transmits theexternal-network control request to the proxy server address indicatedby the acquired remote control information, and makes the proxy serverconvert in format the external-network control request into thehome-network control request and transmit the request to the controlledapparatus.

[0071] According to this program, it is possible to connect to the proxyserver with the proxy server address indicated by the remote controlinformation acquired from the remote control information openingapparatus, and to make the proxy server convert the format of thecontrol request to the controlled apparatus. Therefore, loads on theremote control terminal are reduced, and since the gateway apparatusdoes not need to convert the format, loads on the gateway apparatus arealso reduced.

[0072] A remote control proxy server program of the present inventionmakes a computer function as an external-network control requestreceiving section that receives an external-network control requesttransmitted to a proxy server address from a remote control terminalthat is connected to an external network and acquires the proxy serveraddress from a proxy information opening apparatus that opens controlproxy information to the public on the external network where thecontrol proxy information associates an apparatus identifier foridentifying a controlled apparatus that is connected to a home networkand interprets a home-network control request of home-network controlcommand format to undergo control with the proxy server address on theexternal network of the proxy server apparatus assigned to thecontrolled apparatus, and a control request converting section whichconverts in format a received external-network control request into ahome-network control request, and transmits the home-network controlrequest to the controlled apparatus via a gateway apparatus thatconnects the external network and the home network.

[0073] According to this program, since the external-network controlrequest transmitted from a remote control terminal to a proxy serveraddress is converted into the home-network control request, loads on theremote control terminal are reduced, and since the gateway apparatusdoes not need to convert the format, loads on the gateway apparatus arealso reduced.

[0074] In this program, it may be possible to further make the computerfunction as an encryption end terminal designating section whichencrypts the home-network control request to transmit to the controlledapparatus, and designates either the gateway apparatus or the controlledapparatus as an apparatus for decrypting the encrypted home-networkcontrol request.

[0075] According to this program, since the external-network controlrequest is not only converted in format into the home-network controlrequest, but also is encrypted as a proxy for the remote controlterminal, loads on the remote control terminal are reduced, and sincethe gateway apparatus does not need to convert the format, loads on thegateway apparatus are also reduced. Further, since either the gatewayapparatus or the controlled apparatus is designated as an apparatus fordecrypting the encrypted home-network control request, it is madepossible to select the apparatus for decrypting the request asappropriate corresponding to performances of the controlled apparatusand gateway apparatus. For example, the gateway apparatus is designatedwhen the controlled apparatus does not have the function of decryptingencrypted data or it is required to reduce loads on the controlledapparatus. Meanwhile, the controlled apparatus is designated when it isrequired to reduce loads on the gateway apparatus.

[0076] An address converting program of the present invention makes acomputer convert a transmission destination address of a home-networkcontrol request from an address on an external network into an addresson a home network in a network system comprised of a controlledapparatus that is connected to the home network and interprets ahome-network control request of home-network control command format toundergo control, a remote control terminal that is connected to theexternal network and transmits an external-network control request ofexternal-network control command format different from the home-networkcontrol command format, a gateway apparatus that connects the homenetwork and the external network, and a proxy server that converts informat, on the external network, the external-network control requestinto the home-network control request to transmit to the controlledapparatus, and makes the computer function as an address conversioninformation holding section that holds address conversion informationassociating transmission source information comprised of a senderaddress indicative of an address on the external network of the proxyserver and control specific codes assigned for each control content ofthe controlled apparatus to which the proxy server requests withpost-conversion address information indicative of an address on the homenetwork of the controlled apparatus, a home-network control requestreceiving section that receives the home-network control request whichis transmitted from the proxy server to the address on the externalnetwork of the gateway apparatus and which contains the home-networkcontrol request containing the transmission source address and a controlspecific code, and an address converting section which reads the addressconversion information that corresponds to the transmission sourceaddress and the control specific code, and according to the addressconversion information, converts the transmission destination address ofthe home-network control request into an address on the home-network ofthe controlled apparatus indicated by the post-conversion addressinformation.

[0077] According to this program, since the home-network control requestis transferred to a desired controlled apparatus only by that the proxyserver transmits the home-network control request containing the controlspecific code to an address of the gateway apparatus, the proxy serveris capable of transmitting the home-network control request to thedesired controlled apparatus without gasping the home-network address ofthe controlled apparatus.

[0078] In this program, it may be possible to further make the computerfunction as a control request identifying section that identifieswhether or not a received home-network control request is a controlrequest to the gateway apparatus, and a control executing section whichwhen the control request is to the gateway apparatus, executes therequested control over the gateway apparatus without transferring thehome-network control request.

[0079] According to this program, it is possible to make the gatewayapparatus control itself only by that the proxy server transmits thecontrol request for the gateway apparatus to an address of the gatewayapparatus in the same way as transmitting the home-network controlrequest to the controlled apparatus.

[0080] Further in this program, when a content of the control request tothe gateway apparatus is history information collection, the controlexecuting section may transmit history information containing at leastone of execution results and execution states of control requested tothe controlled apparatus.

[0081] According to this program, it is possible to make the gatewayapparatus transmit history information only by that the proxy servertransmits a history information transmission request to the gatewayapparatus in the same way as transmitting the home-network controlrequest to the controlled apparatus. Then, for example, it is possibleto select either continuing or suspending a next home-network requestfrom the history information.

[0082] Further, in the remote control proxy server program of thepresent invention, it may be possible to further make the computerfunction as a requester information collecting section that collectsrequester information on requesters of the remote control, and arequester information registering section that registers the requesterinformation with a requester information server that provides theinformation corresponding to an inquiry request from an outer terminal.

[0083] According to this program, using an external terminal, forexample, it is made possible that sales representatives refer to therequester information on remote control of requesters to use in salespromotion of the controlled apparatus.

[0084] Further, the present invention includes computer readable storagemedia that store the above programs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] The above and other objects and features of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinone example is illustrated by way of example, in which;

[0086]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network system usinga home-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

[0087]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a proxy serveraccording to Embodiment 1;

[0088]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a gatewayaccording to Embodiment 1;

[0089]FIG. 4A,4B are a sequence diagram illustrating proceduresperformed between apparatuses in the network system using thehome-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 1;

[0090]FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home page forselection screen displayed on a remote terminal in the home-networkapparatus control method according to Embodiment 1;

[0091]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home page forcontrol item screen displayed on a remote terminal in the home-networkapparatus control method according to Embodiment 1;

[0092]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home page forcontrol setting screen displayed on a remote terminal in thehome-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 1;

[0093]FIG. 8(a) is a diagram illustrating an example of command transfersetting request message for home-network apparatus in the home-networkapparatus control method according to Embodiment 1;

[0094]FIG. 8(b) is a diagram illustrating an example of command transfersetting request message for gateway in the home-network apparatuscontrol method according to Embodiment 1;

[0095]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an addressconversion information table in the home-network apparatus controlmethod according to Embodiment 1;

[0096]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home page fornotification screen in the home-network apparatus control methodaccording to Embodiment 1;

[0097]FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in the network system using the home-networkapparatus control method according to Embodiment 1;

[0098]FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in a network system using a home-network apparatuscontrol method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0099]FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in a network system using a home-network apparatuscontrol method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0100]FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in a network system using a home-network apparatuscontrol method according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention; and

[0101]FIG. 15 is another sequence diagram illustrating proceduresperformed between apparatuses in the network system using thehome-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0102] Embodiments of the present invention will be described belowspecifically with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0103] (Embodiment 1)

[0104]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network system usinga home-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

[0105] In network system 1, home-network area 2 is constructed of aplurality of different types of home networks, i.e., IEEE1394 network 3,ECHONET network 4 and Ethernet (R) network 5. IEEE1394 network 3 is toaccommodate AV apparatuses, and in this embodiment 1 connected todigital TV 6 and VTR 7 as home-network apparatuses. ECHONET network 4 isto accommodate home appliances, and in this embodiment connected tomicrowave oven 8 as a home-network apparatus. Ethernet (R) network 5 isto accommodate PC apparatuses such as a personal computer (PC) andprinter, and in this embodiment, connected to PC9. Hereafter, IEEE 1394network 3, ECHONET network 4 and Ethernet (R) network 5 are bothreferred to as a “home network”.

[0106] Home-network apparatuses are each provided with an interface andcommunication protocol conforming to the specification of a home networkto which the apparatus is connected. Further, in Embodiment 1, sincecontrol request commands are encrypted as described later, theapparatuses need to be provided with a section for decrypting thecommands.

[0107] Home networks 3, 4 and 5 are connected to gateway 10. Gateway 10is a relay apparatus provided with interfaces respectively for homenetworks 3, 5 and 5, and an interface for the internet 11. Gateway 10mutually converts protocols different between the networks to implementdata transfer. Each house is provided with, for example, a singleGateway 10.

[0108] The internet 11 that is an external network is connected tocellular telephone 12 and desktop PC 13 (hereafter referred to as aremote terminal) as remote terminals for remotely controllinghome-network apparatuses. It is only required for remote terminals tohave the function of connecting to the internet, and the function ofcommunicating HTTP commands with proxy server 14 as described later.Another examples of remote terminals are portable personal informationterminal (PDA) provided with the communication function and a telephonewith the internet function such as an L mode.

[0109] The internet 11 is connected to proxy server 14 and clientinformation server 16 via router 17 provided in manufacturer area 15.Proxy server 14 receives a control request to a home-network apparatusfrom a remote terminal and actually controls the home-network apparatusas a proxy for the remote terminal. Meanwhile, client information server16 manages information of clients having home-network apparatusesregistered therewith. Proxy server 14 and client information server 16will be described specifically below.

[0110]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the proxyserver according to Embodiment 1. In proxy server 14, apparatus controlexecuting section 21 primarily executes operations required forhome-network apparatus control in Embodiment 1 in proxy server 14.Specifically, the section 21 creates a home page and controls screens ona Web basis to transmit to a remote terminal, determines whether or notcontrol can be executed upon receiving a control request from a remoteterminal, retrieves a control command that can be directly interpretedby a home-network apparatus, transmits/receives commands to/from commandtransmitting/receiving control section 22, and updates information ofclient information server 16.

[0111] Command transmitting/receiving control section 22 assembles acontrol command corresponding to protocol (for example, IEEE1394 orECHONET) applied to the home network to which the home-network apparatusis connected.

[0112] HTTP server function section 23 transmits a control screen to aremote terminal using the HTTP protocol.

[0113] Proxy server 14 is provided with TCP/IP protocol stack 24, datalink control section 25 and network interface 26 as basic networkfunctions required to connect to the internet.

[0114] TCP/IP protocol stack 24 includes schemes (such as IPsec and SSL(Secure Sockets Layer)) to implement user authentication forauthenticating a user and encrypting transmission data.

[0115]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the gatewayaccording to Embodiment 1. Sections having the same functions as inproxy server 14 are assigned the same reference numerals to omitdescriptions thereof.

[0116] In gateway 10, home-network apparatus managing section 31collects information on attributes and states of home-networkapparatuses to store in home-network apparatus management informationstoring section 32.

[0117] Control command executing section 33 executes a control commandwhen a remote terminal transmits the control command to gateway 10.Specifically, the section 33 handles command transfer setting requestsfrom remote terminals, collects control history information, etc.

[0118] Between-protocol inter-work processing section 34 implementsprocessing on the inter-work between protocols (specifically, TCP/IP,IEEE1394 and ECHONET) used on a plurality of home networks that gateway10 handles.

[0119] IEEE1394 protocol stack 35 and ECHONET protocol stack 36 areprotocol groups required for communications respectively on IEEE1394network 3 and ECHONET network 4.

[0120] WAN side interface (I/F) 37 is to connect to the internet 11,while LAN side interfaces 38, 39 and 40 are to connect to the homenetworks.

[0121] Gateway 10 implements the functions as a gateway, while storingvarious information required for implementing the home-network controlof the present invention. Address conversion information storing section41 stores information on address conversion required for transmittingpackets input from one of interfaces 37 to 40 to another interface usinga different protocol. Home-network apparatus management informationstoring section 32 stores the information on attributes and states ofhome-network apparatuses. Control history information storing section 42stores information on histories of various operations that gateway 10performs.

[0122]FIG. 4A,4B are a sequence diagram illustrating proceduresperformed between apparatuses in the network system using thehome-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 1.

[0123] Gateway 10 checks home-network apparatuses connected to the homenetworks at regularly time intervals, and when detecting a newhome-network apparatus, collects information (apparatus information) onan attribute and state of the home-network apparatus (ST401). Theapparatus information specifically includes:

[0124] Apparatus name;

[0125] URL of proxy server 14;

[0126] Expiration date of URL;

[0127] Address on the home network (hereafter, referred to as ahome-network address); and

[0128] MAC address.

[0129] Next, gateway 10 assigns a home-network apparatus identifier easyto understand for an operator of a remote terminal to the detectedremote terminal (ST402). The home-network apparatus identifier isdetermined, for example, to be “VTR 1” using an apparatus name, but isnot limited in particular. Gateway 10 associates the assignedhome-network apparatus identifier with these acquired information togenerate home-network apparatus management information, and registersthe information with home-network apparatus management informationstoring section 32 (ST403).

[0130] According to procedures up to this point, gateway 10 assigns thehome-network apparatus identifier to the home-network apparatus, andassociates URL of proxy server 14 and expiration date of URL with thehome-network apparatus identifier to hold.

[0131] When a remote terminal controls a home-network apparatus, theremote terminal first acquires information of the home-network apparatusfrom gateway 10. As illustrated in FIG. 4A,4B, the remote terminaltransmits an information acquisition request message for thehome-network apparatus to gateway 10 using the HTTP protocol (ST404).Upon receiving the information acquisition request message, gateway 10refers to home-network apparatus management information storing section32, and generates a content of home page for selection screen indicatinghome-network apparatuses registered with home-network apparatusmanagement information storing section 32 (ST405). Gateway 10 transmitsa generated data file (for example, an HTML file) of the content of homepage for selection screen to the remote terminal using the HTTP protocol(ST406).

[0132] The remote terminal displays the received data file on a displayusing a Web browser (ST407). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exampleof the home page for selection screen displayed on a remote terminal inthe home-network control method according to Embodiment 1. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, on home page for selection screen 50 aredisplayed pairs of home-network apparatus identifiers 51 to 54 assignedto respective home-network apparatuses, and icons 55 to 58 preparedcorresponding to types of the home-network apparatus. In this example,for gateway 10, identifier 59 and icon 60 are displayed.

[0133] The operator of the remote terminal selects a home-networkapparatus to control (in this example, VTR) (ST408). The operator clickshome-network apparatus identifier (VTR 1) 51 or icon 55 of the selectedhome-network apparatus (VTR). Since clicking home-network apparatusidentifier 51 or icon 55 links to URL of proxy server 14 responsible forthe home-network apparatus, the remote terminal transmits a connectionrequest to proxy server 14 based on URL (ST409).

[0134] Upon receiving a connection request from the remote terminal(ST409), proxy server 104 establishes an SSL session with the remoteterminal (ST410). At this point, the remote terminal and proxy server 14exchange messages to which attached is a certification for certifyingits identity to mutually authenticate its communicating party, andnegotiate to determine an encryption algorithm for use incommunications. Further, the remote terminal transmits a commonencryption key for use in decrypting encrypted data. The followingcommunications are performed using this SSL session.

[0135] Next, the remote terminal transmits to proxy server 14 controlledapparatus information containing an IP address of gateway 10 and thehome-network apparatus identifier (VTR 1) of the home-network apparatus(VTR) (ST411). At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 4A,4B, proxy server14 establishes an SSL session for gateway 10. Proxy server 14 exchangesthe common encryption key, and transmits an electronic certificationobtained from a third party of a certification organization to gateway10. Based on the received electronic certification, gateway 10authenticates whether the party, i.e., proxy server 14 that intends tocontrol the home-network apparatus, has the creditability. Using thisSSL session, proxy server 14 acquires types of home-network apparatusesand types of controls executable for respective apparatuses using“home-network apparatus information request”.

[0136] Then, the remote terminal requests a control item screen fordisplaying control items of the home-network apparatus to proxy server14 using the HTTP protocol (ST412). In response thereto, based on theinformation acquired from the home-network apparatus request, proxyserver 14 generates a content of home page for control item screen fordisplaying control items of the home-network apparatus (VTR) (ST413).Next, proxy server 14 transmits a data file of the content of home pagefor control item screen to the remote terminal (ST414).

[0137] The remote terminal displays the received data file on thedisplay using the Web browser (ST415). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustratingan example of the home page for control item screen displayed on theremote terminal in the home-network control method according toEmbodiment 1. As illustrated in FIG. 6, on home page for control itemscreen 61 are listed control items 62 to 66 of the home-networkapparatus (VTR) controllable from the remote terminal. Control items 62to 66 are each linked to URL of a respective home page for controlsetting screen for setting control contents.

[0138] When the operator of the remote terminal clicks control item 64after determining the item (in this example, recording) for the control(ST416), the remote terminal transmits an HTTP request to proxy server14 based on linked URL (ST417).

[0139] In response thereto, proxy server 14 generates a content of thehome page for control setting screen for use in setting control contentsof the control item (recording), based on the information acquired fromthe home-network apparatus information request (ST418). Proxy server 14transmits a data file of the content of the home page for controlsetting screen to the remote terminal (ST419).

[0140] The remote terminal displays the received data file on thedisplay using the Web browser (ST420). FIG. 7 is a diagram illustratingan example of the home page for control setting screen displayed on theremote terminal in the home-network control method according toEmbodiment 1.

[0141] On home page for control setting screen 70 are prepared reservedata setting item 71 for setting date to reserve recording, channelsetting item 72 for setting a channel for the recording, and modesetting item 73 for setting a recording speed mode for the recording.After setting required matters in item 71 to 73, the operator clicksbutton 74 of “to next”. Then, the remote terminal generates a controlrequest message containing all information required for the controllingthe home-network apparatus, and transmits the message to proxy server 14using the HTTP protocol (ST422).

[0142] According to the procedures as described above, proxy server 14receives a control request to the home-network apparatus (VTR) from theremote terminal. Since the procedures between the remote terminal andproxy server 14 are performed using the HTTP protocol on the TCP/IPprotocol, it is only required for the remote terminal to be providedwith the TCP/IP protocol stack (including authentication and encryptionfunctions) and a Web browser as an HTTP client.

[0143] The control over the home-network apparatus will be describedbelow which is performed by proxy server 14 via gateway 10. Uponreceiving the final control request message from the remote terminal asdescribed above (ST422), proxy server 14 establishes an SSL session withgateway 10 according to the same procedure in ST410.

[0144] Then, proxy server 14 transmits command transfer setting requestmessage 81 illustrated in FIG. 8(a) to gateway 10 using the HTTPprotocol (ST424). Items on the command transfer setting request massageindicate as described below:

[0145] Transmission source IP address: IP address of proxy server 14

[0146] Transmission source port number: Port number for specifying ahome-network apparatus control program operating on proxy server 14

[0147] Home-network apparatus identifier: Identifier of a home-networkapparatus selected in a remote terminal

[0148] Encryption end terminal: Either the home-network apparatus orgateway 10 is designated to decrypt an encrypted control commandtransmitted from proxy server 14 to gateway 10. In this example, “VTR 1”is designated.

[0149] Gateway 10 having received the command transfer setting requestmessage refers to home-network apparatus management information storingsection 32 illustrated in FIG. 3, and retrieves the network addressinformation corresponding to the home-network apparatus identifier inthe message to read (ST425). Based on information in the message and thenetwork address information, proxy sever 14 generates address conversioninformation 91 as illustrated in address conversion table 90, line 1 inFIG. 9 to register with address conversion information storing section41 (ST426). When the address conversion information is already present,the information is updated. The address conversion information iscomposed of following values:

[0150] Transmission source protocol: Network protocol used intransmitting from a transmission source (proxy server 14); IP protocolin this example

[0151] Transmission source address information: IP address/port numberof proxy server 14 designated in the command transfer setting requestmessage

[0152] Prior-conversion protocol: Network protocol prior to theconversion in gateway 10; IP protocol in this example;

[0153] Prior-conversion address information: IP address of gateway 10and a port number for specifying control command executing section 33operating on gateway 10

[0154] Post-conversion protocol: Network protocol used in the homenetwork corresponding to the home-network apparatus identifier; IEEE1394in this example

[0155] Post-conversion address information: Address information specificto the network on which the home-network apparatus exists; herein, as anexample, GUID and node ID on the IEEE1394 network are set.

[0156] Since in the command transfer setting request message illustratedin FIG. 8(a) the home-network apparatus (VTR) is set as an encryptionend terminal, gateway 10 transfers the acquired common encryption key tothe home-network apparatus (ST427). It is thus possible for thehome-network apparatus to interpret the encrypted control command.

[0157] In this way, the setting is completed for proxy server 14 totransmit the control command to the home-network apparatus. Aftercompleting the setting, gateway 10 notifies proxy server 14 ofcompletion of the setting (ST428).

[0158] After finishing the command transfer setting for the home-networkapparatus (VTR 1), proxy server 14 performs command transfer setting forgateway 10 (ST429). Command transfer setting request message 82illustrated in FIG. 8(b) is for the remote terminal to control gateway10. Therefore, the home-network apparatus identifier is set at “gateway1” that is an identifier of gateway 10. Further, the encryption endterminal is set at gateway 10. Therefore, based on the message, gateway10 generates address conversion information 92 illustrated in addressconversion information table 90, line 2 in FIG. 9. However, since anapparatus targeted for the control is gateway 10, columns ofpost-conversion protocol and post-conversion address information areblank. In this way, as in the case that an apparatus targeted for thecontrol is a home-network apparatus, the setting is completed for proxyserver 14 to transmit a control command to gateway 10 (ST430).

[0159] When the setting is thus completed, gateway 10 notifies proxyserver 10 of completion of the setting (ST431).

[0160] After the command transfer setting is finished as describedabove, proxy serer 14 converts the control request in ST422 into acontrol request command (ST432) to transmit to gateway 10 (ST433). Morespecifically, proxy server 14 converts in format the control requestreceived as an HTTP request into the control request command that can bedirectly interpreted by the home-network apparatus to transmit. Therecording instructing command is encrypted using the common encryptionkey, then given a header of IP packet, and transmitted over the internet11 to gateway 10 as a destination.

[0161] In addition, in this example, the control request command is therecording instructing command, more specifically, using an AV/C commandof IEEE1394.

[0162] Upon receiving the IP-packet control request command (recordinginstructing command), gateway 10 refers to address conversioninformation storing section 41 illustrated in FIG. 3, retrieves theaddress conversion information on line 1 based on a transmission sourceaddress and port number contained in the IP packet to read. According tothe read address conversion information, gateway 10 converts thetransmission destination address of the IP packet (ST434). Further,gateway 10 rewrites the header information of the packet from IP toIEEE1394 to perform protocol conversion (ST435), and then transmitsconverted packets (recording instructing command) over the IEEE1394network (ST436).

[0163] The home-network apparatus (VTR 1) receives the packetscontaining the control request command (recording instructing command),decrypts an encrypted payload of the packet using the common encryptionkey acquired in ST427, and interprets the recording instructing command(ST437). Then, the home-network apparatus executes the control(recording reservation) according to a result of the interpretation(ST438).

[0164] After finishing the control, the home-network apparatus generatesa response message to be transmitted to proxy server 14 (ST439). Thegenerated response message is transmitted to proxy server 14 accordingto command transfer (ST440, ST441, ST442 and ST443). Based on theresponse message, proxy server 14 generates a contentofhomepagefornotificationscreenfornotifying the control completion asillustrated in FIT.10 (ST444). Then, as a response to the controlrequest in ST422, proxy server 14 transmits a data file of the contentof home page for notification screen to the remote terminal (ST445).Upon receiving the data file, the remote terminal opens the data file onthe Web browser to display, and notifies the operation of the completionof the control (ST446).

[0165] In addition, this example explains the case where when receivingpackets containing a control request command, a home-network apparatusaccepts the control, and executes the processing sequentially (ST437 toST439), i.e., the case where the control request succeeds. However,there is a case where a home-network apparatus rejects a control requestand does not executes the control, i.e., the case where the controlrequest fails. For example, when a home-network apparatus executes otherprocessing which does not permit the control requested for the apparatusto be executed, the control request fails. More specifically, when acontrol request is recording reservation and the home-network apparatus(VTR 1) is controlled by another terminal (for example, PC 9), theapparatus cannot reserve the recording, and rejects the recordingreservation. In such a case, the apparatus generates a response messageindicative of control request rejection (hereafter, referred to as an NGresponse message) to transmit. Thus, according to Embodiment 1, theoperation is capable of knowing whether a control request succeeds orfails.

[0166] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the content of the home pagefor notification screen is provided with, in addition to message 100indicative of control completion, control items 101 to 105 for use innewly making a control request, and finish selecting item 106. Theoperator selects any one from control items 101 to 105 when newly makinga control request. In this way, the control request is made according tothe same procedures as in ST422 to ST446.

[0167] Meanwhile, when selecting finish selecting item 106 (ST1101),since a control finish request message transmission command to proxyserver 14 is embedded in finish selecting item 106, the control finishrequest message is transmitted as illustrated in FIG. 11 (ST1102). Uponreceiving the control finish request message, proxy server 14 transmitsa command transfer cancellation request message for requesting to cancelthe command transfer setting for the home-network apparatus to gateway10 (ST1103). Upon receiving the command, gateway 10 deletes addressconversion information 91 of the home-network apparatus (VTR 1) in table90, line 1 illustrated in FIG. 90 (ST1104). Getaway 10 sends back acommand transfer cancellation response message for replying that thecommand transfer setting is cancelled (ST1105). Upon receiving thisresponse, proxy server 14 transmits a command transfer cancellationrequest message for gateway 10 (ST1106). Upon receiving the command,gateway 10 deletes address conversion information 92 of gateway 10 intable 90, line 2 illustrated in FIG. 9 (ST1107), and sends back acommand transfer cancellation response message to proxy server 14(ST1108). In this way, a series of home-network apparatus control isfinished.

[0168] As described above, in Embodiment 1, gateway 10 detectshome-network apparatuses connected to home networks 3, 4 and 5 connectedto gateway 10, and collects information of these apparatuses (includingURLs of proxy servers responsible for the apparatuses). Gateway 10assigns home-network apparatus identifiers to detected home-networkapparatuses, associates the home-network apparatus identifiers with theapparatus information to generate home-network apparatus managementinformation, and registers the information with home-network apparatusmanagement information storing section 32 to hold. Further, uponreceiving a request from a remote terminal, gateway 10 generates acontent of a home page for selection screen that is associated withhome-network apparatus identifiers of home-network apparatuses managedby gateway 10 and linked with URLs of proxy servers 14 responsible forthe apparatuses to transmit to a remote terminal. In other words,gateway 10 holds the home-network apparatus management information,registered therewith, associating the address information of proxyserver 14 with the home-network apparatus identifiers, and opens thehome-network apparatus management information to the public on theinternet 11 as a home page.

[0169] Further, in Embodiment 1, proxy server 14 receives at URL acontrol request message transmitted in the HTTP protocol, and convertsthe control request message into the control request command of formatenabling a home-network apparatus to directly interpret the command. Theserver 14 constructs the control request command in IP packets totransmit to gateway 10. Then, gateway 10 performs address conversion andprotocol conversion on the IP packets of the control request command totransfer to the home-network apparatus.

[0170] A remote terminal thus transmits a control request message to URLof proxy server 14 using the HTTP protocol, whereby the remote terminalis capable of making proxy server 14 perform format conversion on thecontrol request command. In this way, since a remote terminal does notneed to generate a control request command that can be directlyinterpreted by a home-network apparatus and only needs to use a Webbrowser, it is possible to simplify a configuration of a remote terminaland reduce loads on the terminal. Besides theses advantages, sincegateway 10 does not need to interpret a control request message in theHTTP protocol to convert into a control command that can be directlyinterpreted by a home-network apparatus, it is possible to simplify aconfiguration of gateway 10 and reduce loads on gateway 10.

[0171] Since gateway 10 opens URL of proxy server 14 responsible forhome-network apparatuses to the public on the internet 11, remoteterminals are capable of acquiring URL from the opened contents. Thus,it is only required for each of operations of remote terminals to knowURL of gateway 10, even without knowing URL of proxy server 14responsible for the home-network apparatus targeted for the control.

[0172] In Embodiment 1, gateway 10 detects home-network apparatuses,assigns identifiers to the home-network apparatuses, registers thehome-network apparatus management information and opens URL of proxyserver 14 to the public, but it may be possible that an apparatus otherthan gateway 10 performs above operations. Since such an apparatus needsto connect to both home networks 3, 4 and 5and the internet 11, it ispreferable to provide gateway 10 originally having WAN side interface 37and LAN side interfaces 38 to 40 with such functions.

[0173] Further, since proxy server 14 is capable of authenticatingremote terminals and encrypting control request commands and therebyeliminates the need for remote terminals and gateway 10 to perform theauthentication and encryption, it is possible to improve safety(preventing unauthorized people from controlling home-networkapparatuses) without complicating configurations of remote terminals andgateway 10 and increasing loads on the terminals and gateway 10.

[0174] (Embodiment 2)

[0175]FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in the network system using the home-networkapparatus control method according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention. Procedures in FIG. 12 up to a step that gateway 10 receivesIP packets of a control request command and transmits the packets to ahome-network apparatus are the same as in ST401 to ST436.

[0176] After gateway 10 transmits a converted control request commandcomposed of packets on either home networks 3, 4 or 5 (ST436), when thehome-network apparatus is executing other processing that does notpermit the home-network apparatus to execute the required control, thecontrol request is rejected. In this case, as described in Embodiment 1,the home-network apparatus generates an NG response message (ST1201) totransmit (ST1202).

[0177] Gateway 10 performs address conversion (ST1203) and protocolconversion (ST1204) on the NG response message to transfer to proxyserver 14 (ST1205).

[0178] Upon receiving the NG response message, proxy server 14 transmitsa history collection request message to gateway 10 using the HTTPprotocol (ST1206). The history collection request is made using the sameprocedures as in the control request to a home-network apparatus asdescribed in Embodiment 1. In other words, for the history collectionrequest message, “12326” is used as a transmission source port number.The number is a value set in an item of transmission source addressinformation in address conversion information 92, which is of the casewhere gateway 10 is targeted for control, in line 2, address conversioninformation table 90 in FIG. 9. Accordingly, in gateway 10, commandtransmitting/receiving control section 22 recognizes that the message isa control request (history collection) to gateway 10 by referring toaddress conversion information 92, and control command executing section33 in gateway 10 executes the processing (history collection) (ST1207).Specifically, control command executing section 33 refers to controlhistory information storing section 42 to collect the historyinformation. Then, command transmitting/receiving control section 22generates a history response message from the collected historyinformation (ST1208) to transmit (ST1209).

[0179] Upon receiving the history response message, proxy server 14analyzes the history information contained in the message (ST1210), andgenerates a content of a home page for history display (ST1211). Thehome page contains a message indicative of a history, for example, suchthat “VTR 1 is being used by PC 1 from 16:32, and recording reservationis disabled”. Proxy server 14 transmits a data file of the generatedcontent of the home page to the remote terminal (ST1212). The remoteterminal receives the data file to display using the Web server(ST1213). The operator is capable of knowing that the control requestfails from the displayed home page.

[0180] Herein, as an example of the history information, the case that acontrol request fails is explained. Further, histories include executionresults and execution states of control requests such that the controlrequest is normally accepted and has succeeded, the control is beingexecuted, or the control is completed.

[0181] Thus, in Embodiment 2, gateway 10 is provided with commandtransmitting/receiving control section 22 and control command executingsection 33 to enable gateway 10 to recognize a control request togateway 10 from proxy server 14 and is capable of executing the control.Gateway 10 is further provided with control history information storingsection 42, and has the function of collecting the history informationby referring to the section 42 to transmit as a message. It is therebypossible that proxy server 14 requests gateway 10 to collect histories,and that a remote terminal acquires a content of a home page includinghistory information to display. As a result, the operator is capable ofknowing an execution result or execution state of the control request ofthe home-network apparatus from the history information on the homepage.

[0182] In this example, when receiving an NG response message, proxyserver 14 requests for history collection (ST1206). However, historycollection is not limited to the above case. For example, it may bepossible to request for history collection when an OK response messagefor notifying a success of the control request is received. Further, itmay be possible for a remote terminal to request for history collectionvia proxy server 14 when the response message is received. Furthermore,timing of making a request for history collection is not limited to thetime of receiving a response message. For example, it may be possible toperform at regular time intervals, or at the time an operator of aremote terminal instructs.

[0183] (Embodiment 13)

[0184]FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in a network system using a home-network apparatuscontrol method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.Procedures illustrated in FI.13 up to ST1108 (ST1101 to ST1108) wherethe control is finished are the same as in FIG. 11 in Embodiment 1.

[0185] In Embodiment 3, as illustrated in FIG. 13, upon receiving acommand transfer cancellation response message form gateway 10 (ST1108),proxy server 14 collects client information (ST1301). The clientinformation is one relating to controls for each requester of remotecontrol using a remote terminal, i.e., client. For example, the clientinformation includes a time required for a series of the control, thenumber of times a command is executed, other states (such as a period ofuse and continuous running time) of an apparatus obtained during thecontrol, and control history. Proxy server 14 generates the clientinformation, for example, by holding and editing commandstransmitted/received to/from gateway 10 and contents of the historyinformation.

[0186] Upon completing collection of the client information (ST1301),proxy server 14 transmits the client information to client informationserver 16 (ST1302). Upon receiving the client information, clientinformation server 16 stores the information for each client, andupdates the information when receiving new client information (ST1303).

[0187] When a sales representative terminal connected to the internet 11makes a browsing request (ST1304), client information server 16generates a content of a client information home page for displayingrequired client information (ST1305). Then, the server 16 transmits adata file of the generated content of the home page to the salesrepresentative terminal (ST1306). The sales representative terminaldisplays the content of the home page using the Web browser (ST1307).

[0188] In this way, according to Embodiment 3, it is possible for salesrepresentatives to refer to the client information on remote control byclients, it is possible to use the information for sales promotion ofhome-network apparatuses. More specifically, it is possible to transmitinformation of new products at the time of the replacement purchaseestimated from the period of use, continuous running time, etc. of thehome-network apparatus, or promote exchange of a part by e-mail byestimating a wearing extent of the part (for example, a video head).

[0189] (Embodiment 4)

[0190]FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating procedures performedbetween apparatuses in a network system using a home-network apparatuscontrol method according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0191] Each Home-network apparatus holds, as explained in Embodiment 1,URL of proxy server 14 as one of apparatus information collected bygateway 10. However, there is a case that URL of proxy server 14 is notpermanent, and is temporarily assigned with an expiration date. To copewith such a case, in this example, the home-network apparatus managesthe expiration date of URL, and when the expiration date expires,acquires latest URL to update.

[0192] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14, a home-network apparatusstores an expiration date of URL assigned to proxy server 14, anddetects whether or not the expiration date expires. Upon detecting thatthe expiration date has expired (ST1401), the home-network apparatustransmits a URL information request command for requesting for latestURL to gateway 10 using the communication protocol of a respective oneof home networks 3, 4 and 5 (ST1402). Gateway 10 performs addressconversion and protocol conversion on the command (ST1403 and ST1404),obtains an URL information request message, and transmits the message toproxy server 14 using the HTTP protocol (ST1405).

[0193] Upon receiving the URL information request message, proxy server14 transmits a URL information response message containing latest URLinformation set by, for example, a maintenance person to gateway 10,using the HTTP protocol (ST1407). Gateway 10 performs address conversionand protocol conversion on the URL information response message (ST1408and ST1409) to transfer as a URL information response command on therelevant one of home networks 3, 4 or 5 (ST1410). Upon receiving the URLinformation response command, the home-network apparatus updates the URLinformation in the memory using the latest URL information (ST1411).

[0194] Another example of update of URL information of proxy server 14will be described. FIG. 15 is another sequence diagram illustratingprocedures performed between apparatuses in the network system using thehome-network apparatus control method according to Embodiment 4.

[0195] As explained in Embodiment 1, gateway 10 collects URL of proxyserver 14 from each home-network apparatus to hold. Then, in thisexample, gateway 10 manages the expiration date of URL of proxy server14, and when the expiration date expires, acquires latest URL to update.

[0196] Specifically, as illustrate in FIG. 15, gateway 10 stores theexpiration date of URL assigned to proxy server 14 in home-networkapparatus management information storing section 32, and detects whetheror not the expiration date expires. Then, upon detecting expired URL(ST1501), gateway 10 transmits a URL information request message forrequesting latest URL of proxy server 14 to proxy server 14 using theHTTP protocol (ST1502). Upon receiving the URL information requestmessage, proxy server 14 acquires latest URL information (ST1503). Then,proxy server 14 transmits a URL information response message containingthe acquired latest URL information to gateway 10 using the HTTPprotocol (ST1504). Upon receiving the response message, gateway 10transmits a URL update instructing command containing the latest URLinformation to the home-network apparatus (ST1505). Upon receiving themessage, the home-network apparatus updates the URL information in thememory (ST1506). Then, the home-network apparatus transmits a URL updateresponse command indicative of having updated URL to gateway 10(ST1507).

[0197] In this way, according to Embodiment 4, the home-networkapparatus or gateway 10 manages the expiration date of URL of proxyserver 14, and when the expiration date expires, acquires latest URLfrom proxy server 14 to update. It is thereby possible for thehome-network apparatus to always hold latest URL of the proxy server,and therefore, it is possible to implement reliable and smoothoperations of network systems using the remote control method of thepresent invention.

[0198] Further, in the another example illustrated in FIG. 15, even whena home-network apparatus does not have the function of clock, it ispossible for gateway 10 to manage the expiration date of URL of proxyserver 14 and update URL, instead of the home-network apparatus.

[0199] As is obvious to those skilled in the art, the present inventionis capable of being carried into practice using a commercially availabledigital computer and microprocessor with a program according totechniques as described in above Embodiments. Further, as is obvious tothose skilled in the art, the present invention includes computerprograms generated by those skilled in the art based on techniques asdescribed in above Embodiments.

[0200] Moreover, computer program products are included in the scope ofthe present invention which are storage media having programs withinstructions for a computer to implement the present invention. Thestorage media include disks such as a floppy(R) disk, optical disk,CD-ROM and magnetic disk, ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, optomagnetic card,memory card, DVD, etc., but are not limited to the aforementioned media.

[0201] As described above, according to the present invention, terminalsat remote sites transmit control requests using general protocolswithout using a specific control program, while eliminating loads forconverting the control requests on a gateway, and thereby achieve theremote control.

[0202] The present invention is not limited to the above describedembodiments, and various variations and modifications may be possiblewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0203] This application is based on the Japanese Patent ApplicationNo.2001-218604 filed on Jul. 18, 2001, entire content of which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote control information opening method inwhich a remote control terminal remotely controls a controlled apparatusin a network system comprised of the controlled apparatus that isconnected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, theremote control terminal that is connected to an external network andtransmits an external-network control request of external-networkcontrol command format different from the home-network control commandformat, a gateway apparatus that connects the home network and theexternal network, and a proxy server that converts in format, on theexternal network, the external-network control request into thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,said method comprising: assigning an apparatus identifier foridentifying the controlled apparatus to the controlled apparatus;generating remote control information which associates the apparatusidentifier with a proxy server address indicative of an address on theexternal network of the proxy server responsible for the controlledapparatus; and opening the remote control information to the public onthe external network.
 2. The remote control information opening methodaccording to claim 1, wherein an expiration date of the proxy serveraddress is held, and when the expiration date expires, a new proxyserver address is acquired to update the remote control information. 3.A remote control information registering method in which a remotecontrol terminal remotely controls a controlled apparatus in a networksystem comprised of the controlled apparatus that is connected to a homenetwork and interprets a home-network control request of home-networkcontrol command format to undergo control, the remote control terminalthat is connected to an external network and transmits anexternal-network control request of external-network control commandformat different from the home-network control command format, a gatewayapparatus that connects the home network and the external network, aproxy server that converts in format, on the external network, theexternal-network control request into the home-network control requestto transmit to the controlled apparatus, and a remote controlinformation opening apparatus that opens remote control information tothe public on the external network where the remote control informationassociates an apparatus identifier for identifying the controlledapparatus with a proxy server address indicative of an address on theexternal network of the proxy server responsible for the controlledapparatus, said method comprising: holding the proxy server address ofthe proxy server responsible for the controlled apparatus; andregistering the proxy server address with the remote control informationopening apparatus.
 4. The remote control information registering methodaccording to claim 3, wherein an expiration date of the proxy serveraddress is held, and when the expiration date expires, a new proxyserver address is acquired.
 5. A remote control requesting method inwhich a remote control terminal remotely controls a controlled apparatusin a network system comprised of the controlled apparatus that isconnected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, agateway apparatus that connects the home network and an externalnetwork, a proxy server that converts in format an external-networkcontrol request of external-network control command format available onan external network into the home-network control request to transmit tothe controlled apparatus, and a remote control information openingapparatus that opens remote control information to the public on theexternal network where the remote control information associates anapparatus identifier for identifying the controlled apparatus with aproxy server address indicative of an address on the external network ofthe proxy server assigned to the controlled apparatus, said methodcomprising: acquiring the remote control information from the remotecontrol information opening apparatus; transmitting the external-networkcontrol request to the proxy server address indicated by the acquiredremote control information; and making the proxy server convert informat the external-network control request into the home-networkcontrol request and transmit the request to the controlled apparatus. 6.A remote control proxy method in which a remote control terminalremotely controls a controlled apparatus in a network system comprisedof the controlled apparatus that is connected to a home network andinterprets a home-network control request of home-network controlcommand format to undergo control, the remote control terminal that isconnected to an external network and transmits an external-networkcontrol request of external-network control command format differentfrom the home-network control command format, a gateway apparatus thatconnects the home network and the external network, and a proxyinformation opening apparatus that opens control proxy information tothe public on the external network where the control proxy informationassociates an apparatus identifier for identifying the controlledapparatus with a proxy server address on the external network assignedto the controlled apparatus, said method comprising: receiving theexternal-network control request which the remote control terminaltransmits to the proxy server address acquired from the proxyinformation opening apparatus; converting in format the receivedexternal-network control request into the home-network control request;and transmitting the home-network control request to the controlledapparatus.
 7. The remote control proxy method according to claim 6,wherein the home-network control request to transmit to the controlledapparatus is encrypted and transmitted, and either the gateway apparatusor the controlled apparatus is designated as an apparatus for decryptingthe encrypted home-network control request.
 8. An address convertingmethod in which a remote control terminal remotely controls a controlledapparatus in a network system comprised of the controlled apparatus thatis connected to a home network and interprets a home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, theremote control terminal that is connected to an external network andtransmits an external-network control request of external-networkcontrol command format different from the home-network control commandformat, a gateway apparatus that connects the home network and theexternal network, and a proxy server that converts in format, on theexternal network, the external-network control request into thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,said method comprising: holding address conversion information whichassociates transmission source information comprised of a transmissionsource address indicative of an address on the external network of theproxy server and of control specific codes assigned for each controlcontent of the controlled apparatus to which the proxy server requestswith post-conversion address information indicative of an address on thehome network of the controlled apparatus; receiving the home-networkcontrol request which is transmitted from the proxy server to theaddress on the external network of the gateway apparatus and whichcontains the home-network control request containing the transmissionsource address and the control specific code; reading the addressconversion information which corresponds to the transmission sourceaddress and the control specific code; and converting, according to theaddress conversion information, a transmission destination address ofthe home-network control request from an address on the external-networkaddress into an address on the home-network of the controlled apparatusindicated by the post-conversion address information.
 9. The addressconverting method according to claim 8, wherein the gateway apparatusidentifies whether or not a received home-network control request is acontrol request to the gateway apparatus, and when the control requestis to the gateway apparatus, executes the requested control over thegateway apparatus without transferring the home-network control request.10. The address converting method according to claim 9, wherein when acontent of the control request to the gateway apparatus is historyinformation collection, the gateway apparatus transmits historyinformation containing at least one of execution results and executionstates of control requested to the controlled apparatus.
 11. The remotecontrol proxy method according to claim 6, wherein requester informationon requesters of remote control is collected, and is registered with arequester information server that provides the information correspondingto an inquiry request from an outer terminal.
 12. A remote controlinformation opening apparatus comprising: an identifier assigningsection that assigns an apparatus identifier for identifying acontrolled apparatus to the controlled apparatus that is connected to ahome network and interprets a home-network control request ofhome-network control command format to undergo control; a remote controlinformation generating section that generates remote control informationassociating the apparatus identifier with a proxy server addressindicative of an address on the external network of a proxy server thatis responsible for the controlled apparatus and converts in format anexternal-network control request of external-network control commandformat different from the home-network control command formattransmitted from a remote control terminal into the home-network controlrequest to transmit to the controlled apparatus; and an opening sectionthat opening the remote control information to the public on theexternal network.
 13. The remote control information opening apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising: a proxy server addressupdating section which holds an expiration date of the proxy serveraddress, and when the expiration date expires, acquires a new proxyserver address to update the remote control information.
 14. A remotecontrol information registering apparatus comprising: a proxy serveraddress holding section that holds a proxy server address indicative ofan address on an external network of a proxy server that converts informat an external-network control request into a home-network controlrequest to transmit to a controlled apparatus, where the externalcontrol request has an external-network control command format differentfrom a home-network control command format, and is transmitted from aremote control terminal connected to an external network to a controlledapparatus that is connected to a home network and interprets thehome-network control request of the home-network control command formatto undergo control; and a registering section that registers the proxyserver address with a remote control information opening apparatus thatopens remote control information to the public on the external network,the remote control information associating an apparatus identifier foridentifying the controlled apparatus with the proxy server addressindicative of the address on the external network of the proxy serverresponsible for the controlled apparatus.
 15. The remote controlinformation registering apparatus according to claim 14, furthercomprising: a proxy server address acquiring section which holds anexpiration date of the proxy server address, and when the expirationdate expires, acquires a new proxy server address.
 16. A remote controlrequesting apparatus comprising: a remote control information acquiringsection that acquires remote control information from a remote controlinformation opening apparatus that opens the remote control informationto the public, the remote control information associating an apparatusidentifier with a proxy server address, the apparatus identifier foridentifying a controlled apparatus that is connected to a home networkand interprets a home-network control request of home-network controlcommand format to undergo control, the proxy server address indicativeof an address on an external network of a proxy server that converts informat an external-network control request into the home-network controlrequest to transmit to the controlled apparatus, the external controlrequest having an external-network control command format different fromthe home-network control command format, and being transmitted to thecontrolled apparatus from a remote control terminal connected to theexternal network; and an external-network control request transmittingsection which transmits the external-network control request to theproxy server address indicated by the acquired remote controlinformation, and makes the proxy server convert in format theexternal-network control request into the home-network control requestand transmit the request to the controlled apparatus.
 17. A remotecontrol proxy server apparatus comprising: an external-network controlrequest receiving section that receives an external-network controlrequest transmitted to a proxy server address from a remote controlterminal that is connected to an external network and acquires the proxyserver address from a proxy information opening apparatus that openscontrol proxy information to the public on the external network, thecontrol proxy information associating an apparatus identifier foridentifying a controlled apparatus that is connected to a home networkand interprets the home-network control request of home-network controlcommand format to undergo control with the proxy server addressindicative of an address on an external network assigned to thecontrolled apparatus; and a control request converting section whichconverts in format a received external-network control request into thehome-network control request, and transmits the home-network controlrequest to the controlled apparatus via a gateway apparatus thatconnects the external network and the home network.
 18. The remotecontrol proxy server apparatus according to claim 17, furthercomprising: an encryption end terminal designating section whichencrypts the home-network control request to transmit to the controlledapparatus, and designates either the gateway apparatus or the controlledapparatus as an apparatus for decrypting the encrypted home-networkcontrol request.
 19. An address converting apparatus which converts atransmission destination address of a home-network control request froman address on an external network into an address on a home network in anetwork system comprised of a controlled apparatus that is connected tothe home network and interprets the home-network control request ofhome-network control command format to undergo control, a remote controlterminal that is connected to the external network and transmits anexternal-network control request of external-network control commandformat different from the home-network control command format, a gatewayapparatus that connects the home network and the external network, and aproxy server that converts in format, on the external network, theexternal-network control request into the home-network control requestto transmit to the controlled apparatus, said apparatus comprising: anaddress conversion information holding section that holds addressconversion information associating transmission source informationcomprised of a sender address indicative of an address on the externalnetwork of the proxy server and control specific codes assigned for eachcontrol content of the controlled apparatus to which the proxy serverrequests with post-conversion address information indicative of anaddress on the home network of the controlled apparatus; a home-networkcontrol request receiving section that receives the home-network controlrequest which is transmitted from the proxy server to the address on theexternal network of the gateway apparatus and which contains thehome-network control request containing the transmission source addressand the control specific code; and an address converting section whichreads the address conversion information that corresponds to thetransmission source address and the control specific code, and accordingto the address conversion information, converts the transmissiondestination address of the home-network control request into an addresson the home-network of the controlled apparatus indicated by thepost-conversion address information.
 20. The address convertingapparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: a control requestidentifying section that identifies whether or not a receivedhome-network control request is a control request to the gatewayapparatus; and a control executing section which when the controlrequest is to the gateway apparatus, executes the requested control overthe gateway apparatus without transferring the home-network controlrequest.
 21. The address converting apparatus according to claim 19,wherein when a content of the control request to the gateway apparatusis history information collection, the control executing sectiontransmits history information containing at least one of executionresults and execution states of control requested for the controlledapparatus.
 22. The remote control proxy server according to claim 17,further comprising: a requester information collecting section thatcollects requester information on requesters of the remote control; anda requester information registering section that registers the requesterinformation with a requester information server that provides theinformation corresponding to an inquiry request from an outer terminal.23. A remote control information opening program that makes a computerfunction as: an identifier assigning section that assigns an apparatusidentifier for identifying a controlled apparatus to the controlledapparatus that is connected to a home network and interprets ahome-network control request of home-network control command format toundergo control; a remote control information generating section thatgenerates remote control information associating the apparatusidentifier with a proxy server address indicative of an address on theexternal network of a proxy server that is responsible for thecontrolled apparatus and converts in format an external-network controlrequest of external-network control command format different from thehome-network control command format transmitted from a remote controlterminal into the home-network control request to transmit to thecontrolled apparatus; and an opening section that puts the remotecontrol information on the external network.
 24. The remote controlinformation opening program according to claim 23, wherein the computeris further made function as a proxy server address updating sectionwhich holds an expiration date of the proxy server address, and when theexpiration date expires, acquires a new proxy server address to updatethe remote control information.
 25. A remote control informationregistering program that makes a computer function as: a proxy serveraddress holding section that holds a proxy server address indicative ofan address on an external network of a proxy server that converts informat an external-network control request into a home-network controlrequest to transmit to a controlled apparatus, where the externalcontrol request has an external-network control command format differentfrom a home-network control command format, and is transmitted from aremote control terminal connected to an external network to a controlledapparatus that is connected to a home network and interprets thehome-network control request of the home-network control command formatto undergo control; and a registering section that registers the proxyserver address with a remote control information opening apparatus thatopens remote control information to the public on the external network,the remote control information associating an apparatus identifier foridentifying the controlled apparatus with the proxy server addressindicative of the address on the external network of the proxy serverresponsible for the controlled apparatus.
 26. The remote controlinformation registering program according to claim 23, wherein thecomputer is further made function as a proxy server address acquiringsection which holds an expiration date of the proxy server address, andwhen the expiration date expires, acquires a new proxy server address.27. A remote control requesting program that makes a computer functionas: a remote control information acquiring section that acquires remotecontrol information from a remote control information opening apparatusthat opens the remote control information to the public, the remotecontrol information associating an apparatus identifier with a proxyserver address, the apparatus identifier for identifying a controlledapparatus that is connected to a home network and interprets thehome-network control request of home-network control command format toundergo control, the proxy server address indicative of an address on anexternal network of a proxy server that converts in format anexternal-network control request into a home-network control request totransmit to the controlled apparatus, the external control request hasan external-network control command format different from a home-networkcontrol command format, and being transmitted to the controlledapparatus from a remote control terminal connected to the externalnetwork; and an external-network control request transmitting sectionwhich transmits the external-network control request to the proxy serveraddress indicated by the acquired remote control information, and makesthe proxy server convert in format the external-network control requestinto the home-network control request and transmit the request to thecontrolled apparatus.
 28. A remote control proxy server program thatmakes a computer function as: an external-network control requestreceiving section that receives an external-network control requesttransmitted to a proxy server address from a remote control terminalthat is connected to the external network and acquires the proxy serveraddress from a proxy information opening apparatus that opens controlproxy information to the public on the external network, the controlproxy information associating an apparatus identifier for identifying acontrolled apparatus that is connected to a home network and interpretsthe home-network control request of home-network control command formatto undergo control with a proxy server address indicative of an addresson an external network assigned to the controlled apparatus; and acontrol request converting section which converts in format a receivedexternal-network control request into the home-network control request,and transmits the home-network control request to the controlledapparatus via a gateway apparatus that connects the external network andthe home network.
 29. The remote control proxy server program accordingto claim 28, wherein the computer is further made function as anencryption end terminal designating section which encrypts thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,and designates either the gateway apparatus or the controlled apparatusas an apparatus for decrypting the encrypted home-network controlrequest.
 30. An address converting program that makes a computer converta transmission destination address of a home-network control requestfrom an address on an external network into an address on a home networkin a network system comprised of a controlled apparatus that isconnected to the home network and interprets the home-network controlrequest of home-network control command format to undergo control, aremote control terminal that is connected to the external network andtransmits an external-network control request of external-networkcontrol command format different from the home-network control commandformat, a gateway apparatus that connects the home network and theexternal network, and a proxy server that converts in format, on theexternal network, the external-network control request into thehome-network control request to transmit to the controlled apparatus,said program making the computer function as an address conversioninformation holding section that holds address conversion informationassociating transmission source information comprised of a senderaddress indicative of an address on the external network of the proxyserver and control specific codes assigned for each control content ofthe controlled apparatus to which the proxy server requests withpost-conversion address information indicative of an address on the homenetwork of the controlled apparatus; a home-network control requestreceiving section that receives the home-network control request whichis transmitted from the proxy server to the address on the externalnetwork of the gateway apparatus and which contains the home-networkcontrol request containing the transmission source address and thecontrol specific code; and an address converting section which reads theaddress conversion information that corresponds to the transmissionsource address and the control specific code, and according to theaddress conversion information, converts the transmission destinationaddress of the home-network control request into an address on thehome-network of the controlled apparatus indicated by thepost-conversion address information.
 31. The address converting programaccording to claim 30, wherein the computer is further made function asa control request identifying section that identifies whether or not areceived home-network control request is a control request to thegateway apparatus, and a control executing section which when thecontrol request is to the gateway apparatus, executes the requestedcontrol over the gateway apparatus without transferring the home-networkcontrol request.
 32. The address converting program according to claim30, wherein when a content of the control request to the gatewayapparatus is history information collection, the control executingsection transmits history information containing at least one ofexecution results and execution states of control requested for thecontrolled apparatus.
 33. The remote control proxy server programaccording to claim 28, wherein the computer is further made function asa requester information collecting section that collects requesterinformation on requesters of the remote control, and a requesterinformation registering section that registers the requester informationwith a requester information server that provides the informationcorresponding to an inquiry request from an outer terminal.